Dr. Romero-Leggott is a first-generation college student and native New Mexican Hispana with strong roots in her cultural heritage. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Harvard University and her medical degree from the University of New Mexico (UNM) School of Medicine. Dr. Romero-Leggott serves as Vice President and Executive Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Officer for the UNM Health Sciences Center, as Professor in the Department of Family & Community Medicine, and as the UNM HSC Endowed Professorship in Equity for Health. She also serves as Executive Director of the Combined BA/MD Degree Program, a unique program that promotes the recruitment and retention of a diverse group of New Mexico high school seniors interested in practicing medicine in New Mexico’s areas of greatest need.
She has been a primary care provider on the forefront of treating populations burdened by socio-economic, racial and ethnic disparities; and has extensive experience teaching cultural competence, developing educational pipeline programs for underrepresented youth, building a diverse health workforce, and providing mentorship and career development opportunities and guidance for diverse faculty, residents, students and staff locally and across the nation.
She has been awarded grants totaling over $11M to enhance Diversity, Equity & Inclusion from middle school through professional degrees for underserved and underrepresented youth. These include serving as PI for New Mexico Health Careers Opportunity Programs (HCOP) Academy as well as PI for the New Mexico Workforce Diversity Center of Excellence.
Dr. Romero-Leggott is a role model for young, female learners and professional women in the health sciences and has had a profoundly influential career advocating for women of color. She values time with her family and enjoys the peace and beauty of New Mexico’s mountains.
Phone: 505-272-2728
Email: vromero@salud.unm.edu